Editor’s Note

Earlier this year, we posed some of the following questions in a “Call for submissions” for the Green Issue / 16.2, which you’re about to read:

How are Asian Canadians contributing to the green movement? What is the relationship, if any, between cultural diversity and bio-diversity? And how is the work of contemporary writers and artists inspired and informed by the elements of nature?

In the past few years, and in 2011 alone, the world has become witness to the immense effects of natural disasters on human life. To say the least, we are also becoming acutely aware of the impacts of urban living on places near and far. By writing and reading about the state of the world, perhaps Ricepaper contributors are trying to voice their concerns or come to some sort of resolve.

This summer, we’re pleased to showcase writing in many literary genres: poetry, playwriting, creative non-fiction, memoir-reflection, and cultural and social commentary—all revolving around related themes such as nature, the environment, and landscape. For many reasons, we’ve taken a very broad definition of the word “landscape.” In some cases, we may be referencing our pristine environment; in other cases, we may be commenting on a kind of complex, cultural landscape influenced by both local and global phenomenon. Indeed, we’re interested in revealing the interconnectedness between all things. Open your mind and make the connections between the ideas and the content in these pages; after all, “the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.”

As usual, we are most open to any comments and feedback. Please contact us with your ideas, criticism, or questions, and visit: www.ricepapermagazine.ca for more information about our magazine.

Thank you for your continued readership!

Sincerely,

Eury Chang